The 10 Best Restaurants In La Candelaria, Bogotá

La Candelaria is one of Bogotá’s most historic and beautiful neighborhoods. The streets are lined with Spanish colonial, Baroque or art deco architecture, making this area very popular for tourists. Housing many of the city’s museums, universities, churches and libraries, it’s an area you can’t miss when visiting Bogotá. Grab a bite to eat at any of these restaurants to keep you going while exploring this vibrant neighborhood.

Capital Cocina y Café

Capital Cocina y Café is an excellent choice for fresh Colombian classics and contemporary fusion dishes. Adored by tourists and locals, the dishes are rustic, light and reasonably priced. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, they also cater to vegetarians. The service is as excellent as the food and the staff will make you feel totally at home in the cozy atmosphere. The restaurant is just two blocks from one of Bogota’s most beautiful cathedrals, Iglesia del Carmen. Be sure to check it out before or after your meal.

Trattoria Nuraghe

If you’re looking for a taste of traditional Sardinian food while in Bogotá, Trattoria Nuraghe is the perfect place. Don’t let the seemingly tiny exterior of the restaurant fool you as the interior is modern and inviting, with beautiful wooden-beamed ceilings, exposed brick and warm colors. It’s a beautiful setting to enjoy lunch or dinner. The pasta is homemade and the extensive wine list ensures you’ll find the perfect pairing for whatever you order. Leave room for dessert, their tiramisu and chocolate cake are exceptional.

Fulanitos

Fulanitos offers a taste of food from the Valle del Cauca region of Colombia that borders the Pacific Ocean. The beautiful restaurant is set inside an old colonial home with the charm and character that is typical of La Candelaria: complete with a Spanish style courtyard, balcony and stunning views of the rest of the city. You’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to the setting of a Gabriel García Márquez novel. They serve the best of Colombian comfort food, making it a perfect spot to escape the rain that often frequents Bogotá.

Abadia Colonial Restaurante

Abadia Colonial is a beautiful hotel and restaurant located in the heart of La Candelaria. The beautiful two-story Spanish colonial home is the perfect place to enjoy a light lunch on their patio or a romantic dinner in their dining room. Serving an array of Italian specialties, from homemade pasta, to fresh pizzas, the restaurant has something for everyone. It’s only two blocks away from the Botero Museum, which celebrates one of Colombia’s most famous artists, Fernando Botero.

La Paella de la Candelaria

La Paella de La Candelaria is one of the only restaurants serving traditional Spanish cuisine, in a simple and beautiful setting. Known primarily for their paella, you can also find delicious tapas, a wonderful selection of Spanish wines and freshly made sangria. On the walls of the dining rooms, you’ll see old painted posters advertising bull fights and famous matadors. You might to remind yourself that you’re still in Colombia.

El Gato Gris

El Gato Gris is a small, cozy restaurant serving a fusion of Italian and Colombian inspired dishes. The beautiful atmosphere has rustic historic charm and character, with wonderful service and staff. A live Latin band plays music every night for their dinner service, adding to the lovely romanticism in the air. The restaurant also hosts themed dinners that can be arranged through special reservation on their website or by calling the restaurant. It’s the perfect location to celebrate special occasions.

Casa Vieja

If you’re looking for authentic Colombian food, Casa Vieja is one of the best to get it in La Candelaria. Their extensive menu has dishes from across the country, from the Andes to the Caribbean. Typical Colombian dishes are quite heavy, so bring your appetites. The elegant interior is decorated and furnished in the typical colonial style, with dark wooden beamed ceilings, religious artifacts and elaborate paintings depicting Spanish and Colombian landscapes. Finish your meal with rich Colombian coffee and brevas y arequipe (dulce de leche stuffed figs).

La Bruja

La Bruja is a quaint, little restaurant located next to one of Bogotá’s many universities. The restaurant serves a variety of dishes, with flavors influenced by Latin American and European cuisines. Though open for both lunch and dinner, the restaurant’s candlelit atmosphere is best enjoyed in the evening over a glass of one of their delicious wines. Everything from the art to the furniture to the ambiance aims to transport diners to another time, while listening to the house band play classical Spanish music.

La Condesa Irina Lazaar

This hole in the wall might be hard to find, but once you do, it will be well worth the search. There isn’t a sign outside, so if you can’t locate it using the address, it is best to ask a local. La Condesa Irina Lazaar is a small restaurant and easily one of La Candelaria’s best, drawing everyone from students to professionals for their light and delicious lunches. The cuisine is best described as contemporary with a Colombian twist, though the menu changes often depending on whatever is in season.

La Puerta Falsa

La Puerta Falsa

La Puerta Falsa is a Bogotá institution and one of the most traditional restaurants in the city. It’s been open since 1816 and its reputation as the best snack bar in the city still remains. There aren’t any frills or fancy tablecloths, just excellent food the way it’s been done for centuries. You’ll find typical Colombian pastries and breads like pan de yuca, pan de bono and buñuelos, along with heartier dishes like ajiaco and tamales. The tiny restaurant fills up very quickly. Avoid the crowds by arriving just before or after lunch or dinner hours. They also open for breakfast and would be the perfect place to grab authentic Colombian arepas.